National Futsal Championships: Paradise Invaders, Touches, Albouystown Ballers make case for Round-of-32 spots

The final spots in the Round- of-32 segment of the National Futsal Championships will be on the line on Monday, December 16, when the exhilarating tournament continues. However, Paradise Invaders, Touches and Albouystown Ballers have been among the most recent group of teams to advance to the next round, with contrasting victories being the route on Thursday night.
Albouystown Ballers got the ball rolling at the National Gymnasium on Thursday night by demolishing Game Changer 5-1. Nicholas Jervis opened the scoring for Albouystown in the 12th minute, but Game Changer’s Tyon Kennedy equalised in the 16th minute. Deandre Linton later separated the sides in the 19th, while his teammates Jequan Cole (23rd), Andrew Carto (25th) and Homey Harris (29th) scored one goal each to hand Albouystown the win.

The following game witnessed a similar result, as Touches prevailed over DJ7. Jaheem Grant in the 8th minute netted the first of Touches’ 5, while Jamal Fyffe made it a 3-0 affair by netting a brace in the 13th and 15th minutes. DJ7 looked to stage a comeback, as Keavaun Grant found the back of the net in the 17th, but another brace, this time off the boots of Jonathan Andries in the 21st and 29th, made the comeback impossible, and Touches prevailed.
The third game on the card saw Paradise Invaders drubbing Sophia ‘A’ 7-2 for the biggest win of the night. Deon Martin stunned Sophia ‘A’ with a goal in the 1st minute, and later followed up with another in the 5th, to put Paradise Invaders 2-0 ahead. Sophia’s Joshua Kamal (11th) and Solomon Austin (14th) hit back to level the scores, but Paradise Invaders pulled ahead in the second half.
Qumey Aulder (20th, 26th), Nini Bobb (19th, 24th) and Nial Reynolds (30th) all found the back of the net for Paradise, thereby contributing to the massive victory.
A brace off the boots of Insford Charles in the 26th and 29th minutes later helped Victoria Eagles ease past Pouderoyen Brothers. While Kerwin Maxwell produced Victoria’s first goal in the 12th minute, D’Angelo Peters opened the scoring in the 2nd minute with what turned out to be Pouderoyen’s consolation.
While a fifth game was scheduled for the night, Team Cruel instead benefitted from a walkover, as they were slated to take on Two Friends.
On Monday, December 16, the curtains will come down on the Round-of-64 stage with the final 6 matches. Back Circle ‘B’ will take on Stevedore in the opening game at 19:30hrs, then Ballers United would battle Gladiators from 20:15hrs. At 21:00hrs, Linden YMCA will lock horns with North Ruimveldt, while California Square and Ithaca Ballers duke it out from 21:45hrs. Slingerz Kings go up against Agricola Ballers at 22:20hrs and the night’s action will conclude with a clash between Foot Steppers and Road Warriors, scheduled to blow off at 22:50hrs.
Among the teams who have already secured their places in the next round are: Sparta Boss, Festival City, Bent Street ‘B’, Alexander Village, Unstoppable, Albouystown ‘A’, Team Family, Stabroek Ballers, North East, Buxton, Espanyol, Laing Avenue, Timehri Hustlers, Kitty Hustlers, Vryheid’s Lust, Back Circle, Bent Street, Spaniard, Stabroek ‘B’, Show Stoppers, Gold is Money, Team Cruel, Albouystown Ballers, Paradise Invaders, Touches, Victoria Eagles.